ESPN: Thumbs up, thumbs down from Saturday's Michigan State loss

So after spending days holed up at home sitting in the dark refusing to turn on the television, pick up a paper or going anywhere near a computer, all in order to save this space from a Valenti-esque meltdown, it's time to come out of hiding and start looking back at what just happened and lies ahead for our beloved Same Ol' Sparty.

Start with Adam Rittenberg gives his thumbs up/down for the CMU game:

ESPN, September 14: Thumbs up, Kirk Cousins -- Cousins looks and acts the part of Michigan State's offensive leader, and he played pretty darn well against Central Michigan, completing 13 of 18 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore has earned the right to play more snaps ahead of Keith Nichol.

Thumbs down, Mark Dantonio -- Discipline has been Dantonio's hallmark at Michigan State, but his team lost it against Central Michigan. The Spartans had eight penalties for 81 yards, including an offside call that gave the Chippewas another chance at the game-winning field goal. That just can't happen.

I have to agree with Rittenberg on Cousins. If his play during the first three and a half quarters wasn't enough, then his poise in leading the Spartans down the field after the Chips had tied it up, should have sealed up the starting job for Kirk.

In the fact decisions such as the handling of the quarterback rotation (Steve Grinzcel pointed out earlier today about the loss of reps due to the competition at several key positions), is as much responsible for the deserved thumbs down for Dantonio as are the penalties that Rittenberg refers to are.

It's easy to point the finger at Colin Neely but the game was lost before the offside. It was lost during a fluke bounce on an onside kick. Or by a coaching staff that couldn't adjust and stop a 7-9 yard comeback route near the sideline. It was lost when the chance to open the game wide went sailing 15 yards over BJ Cunningham's head. Or by a three and out immediately following a turnover that basically gave CMU a touchdown. It was lost by game plan that never allowed a single runner the chance to get into a groove. And by one that allowed a quarterback too much time to get in the groove.

As we just witnessed, for Michigan State to lose a team like Central, it not only takes failure across multiple fronts but a little bit of luck too. So to blame the loss on just the players for poor execution or the just coaches for failing to adjust or poor planning leading into the game is oversimplifying things.

So does this mark the return of Same Ol' Sparty?

If you ask the national media, the answer is yes because it makes for an easy headline. If you ask Wolverine fans, it's not a return because they never stopped being S.O.S. The truth is no one can be sure right now. This is the first bad loss of the Dantonio era and how this team responds will determine the direction of this program. If they lay an egg this weekend in South Bend, it's back to Same Ol' Sparty. If they bounce back and play a great game regardless of the outcome, then maybe not.

But the reality is that only one thing can overcome the embarrassment of this past Saturday and that's wins. And I am not just talking about a couple. In order for the season to now become a success, this team must win a minimum of nine games but double digits would go much further toward satisfying an upset fan base.

So as Spartan fans if you are asked if Same Ol' Sparty has returned the honest answer is that, right now, only time will tell.